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I just listened to the last 2 podcasts and I was happy to hear you discuss book fads. One I noticed at the beginning of this year was novels re-workings Charles Dickens' last, unfinished novel: The Mystery of Edmund Drood. There was The Last Dickens (Matthew Pearl) and Drood (Dan Simmons). I feel as if there were others, but can't think of them now. A cottage industry on dead 19th century authors - The Club Dumas, The Poe Shadow, The Dante Club (just realized that last 2 are Pearl novels). Anyway - wondered if anyone else had noticed or could add to the list?

Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones - ties to Great Expectations. It's on my to-read list based on Michael's recommendation.
I just finished the audiobook of The Last Dickens and really enjoyed it.

Any of Gregory Maguire books are retelling of familiar stories Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Son of a Witch A Novel, and A Lion Among Men all retell "The Wizard of Oz." Mirror Mirror tells the back story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves."Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is the story of Cinderella.

I won't remember the titles (and it's too early in the morning to use any google energy) but there are also a few books that are retelling of Peter Pan.

Also, there are a number of sequels or derivative works of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (search "Mr Darcy" at amazon.com and there's a slew of them!) as well as works heavily influenced by P&P/Jane Austen like The Janeites by Rudyard Kiplilng, The Jane Austen Book Club (by Karen Joy Fowler) and even Bridget Jones' Diary (by Helen Fielding.) And let's not forget Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith!)

"Finn: A Novel" by Jon Clinch, is a retelling of Huck Finn about his Pap. It's written somewhat in the 19th century style. Although Finn does some despicable things, sometimes awful things happen when he is around, and we get a look at his childhood and relationship with his father.

Also, this is older, but I loved Sena Jeter Naslund's take on Moby Dick, "Ahab's Wife."

Michael, since you recently read "Moby Dick," how about reading "Ahab's Wife"? This'll be a nice hefty book to add to your nightstand.

How could I forget my favorite! The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. Also, one of the first I thought about (besides the Jan Austen w/ zombies) was March by Geraldine Brooks which tells the story of the father from "Little Women." I didn't take "retelling" into Jane Austen's Book Club, but sure. Why not?

Lmj wrote: "How could I forget my favorite! The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. Also, one of the first I thought about (besides the Jan Austen w/ zombies) was [book:March|13..."

I wasn't counting The Janeites, The Jane Austen Book Club or, Bridget Jones' Diary as retellings, but as works heavily influenced by P&P, adding to the "fad."

Tanya wrote: "Also, there are a number of sequels or derivative works of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (search "Mr Darcy" at amazon.com and there's a slew of them!) as well as works heavily influenced by P&..."

Tanya -
All the Pride & Prejudice take-offs bother me, to be honest. Sometimes I feel like the authors are piggy-backing themselves onto a much loved author in order to sell their own books (which didn't necessarily have to be set in Austen's universe).

Booksexy wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Also, there are a number of sequels or derivative works of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (search "Mr Darcy" at amazon.com and there's a slew of them!) as well as works heavily in..."

I agree, I'm not a fan of what I see as the corruption of the original texts. There's one making the rounds now, Dr Darcy, Vampyre, which is triply offensive to me: 1) it corrupts P&P; 2) It's another vampire novel; 3) it's a knock-off of P&P& Zombies. It doesn't get much more derivative than that!

Libby, thanks for mentioning Ahab's Wife - I just read that last month and it was really interesting. For those who might have avoided it because they haven't read Moby Dick, don't. I think it stands on its own beautifully.

Some of my favorite retellings are of the Tam Lin ballad. There is Tam Lin by Pamela Dean, Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, and the Queen of Spells by Dahlov Ipcar (which I believe is out of print).

Lots and lots of people have used Sherlock Holmes and Dracula. I can read them (some are done well) but I hope the rest of the world understands that they are standing on the shoulders of giants.

I am loving the take offs of the classics. I have read a number of the zombie and vampire make overs and I find them humorous. I have read the classics and greatly enjoy them but I think the takes offs give it a new twist. Also, I think it is bringing new people to the classic books and teaching them history at the same time.

Parody books. Vampire/werewolf/faery/etc books.